Circuit control means



sheets-snee: 1

J. W. BICKEL CIRCUIT CONTROL MEANS Filed NOV. 29, 1935 Oct. 18, 1938.

Patented oei. 18, 193s 2,133,799

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CIRCUIT CONTROL MEANS Joseph W. Bckel, Niles Center, Ill.

Application November 29, 1935, Serial No. 52,016

Claims. (Cl. 123-146.5)

This invention relates to circuit control means, vantages inherent in key-operated devices are and more particularly as directed to circuit conthus eliminated. trol means for use in connection with the igni- It is to be understood that the present invention circuits of automotive vehicles and the like. tion is equally applicable to circuit control means 51' Broadly, the present invention contemplates the other than employed in the ignition circuits of provision of means for controlling the ignition vehicles, the primary concept of the invention recircuit of an internal combustion engine or simisiding in the provision of a suitably controlled lar device by switch means disposed in the cirmechanism for preventing the CSure 0f a Circuit between the incoming power conductor from cuit except by predetermined and authorized 10 a high tension coil or a, source of current supply operation of a suitable circuit controlling mecha.- l0

and a distributor contact. nism.

'I'he present invention, in its preferred em- Other objects and advantages of the present bodiment, is directed tothe provision of means nVentiOn Will appeal' mere fully frOm the fOifor preventing the unauthorized comp1etion of lowing detailed description which, taken in oonu' the ignition circuit through the distributor of junction with the accompanying drawings, will u an automobile or the like, to thereby prevent opdisclose to those skilled in the art the particular eration of the vehicle by anyone except the rightconstruction and operation of a preferred form ful owner. The disclosure constitutes a modi- 0f my inventioncation of the structure shown in my patent, No. In the dra-Wings 2,021,166, of November 19, 1935, Figure 1 is a top plan view of the circuit con- 20 One object of the present invention is to protrol means of my invention applied to a comvide a circuit controlling locking mechanism inmOn type 0f autOmObiie distributor; terposed in the connection between a high ten- Figure 2 is an elevational View of the structure sion conductor leading from the induction coil, ShOWn in Figure 1, With e portion thereOf being or from a source of power supply, and the eenshown in section as taken on the line 2 2 of 25 ter contact of the rotatable distributor arm. Figure 11 Another object of the invention is the provi- Figure 3 is a Vertical SeCtOnel View through a sion of remotely disposed operating means for mdified form 0f Structure; end actuating the circuit control means, in order to Figure 4 ls a vertical Sectional view through a 3U move it into a predetermined position for effectstill further modified form of construction. 30 ing closing of the ignition circuit, which prefer- Referring now to the drawings in detail, the

ably comprises a rotatable dialing mechanism structure ShOWn in Figure 1 comprises an intersimnar to that used for a combination ioek or nel Combustion engine or motor indicated at 5, the like. The operating means, when moved which has secured thereto the distributor housthrough a predetermined sequence or combinaing 5 having ODDOsitelY mounted diStributOr Caps 35 tion of movements, is adapted to position the 1 and 8 provided with a suitable outlet cable 9 circuit controlling means so as to effect complelfading t0 the Spark plugs 0f the VehiCie- The tion of the ignition circuit for producing seifdistributor housing 6, as Shown in Figure 2, is operation of the vehicle upon energization of the Provided With e Cap member i0 mOunted On the starting meten upper surface thereof, which cap member is pro- One of the advantages attained by the present vided With an integrali? forme@ housing Portion construction is the provision of a locking mecha- I2 hai/mg @herein a I'lgh tenslon mductlon C011 nism capable of employing an infinite variety Indicated dlagrammgmcauy at I3' of combinations and sequences of movements to The induction con I3 as shown 1s provided secure actuation thereof, whereby the same type ggg; ngllltcecn in if inteal gar? fclr'ie 45 of locking structure with dierent actuating housing I2. From the condenser I5, a suitable combniatlons may be employed on any nunber terminal conductor I6 is extended rearwardly of of vehicles, each structure having an individual the housing n to a Contact terminal n disposed 5o lockmg Combinatlon substantiaiiy in the piane of the plate lo which is 50 Another advantage secured by the present informed integral with the housing |2 vention is the provision of a locking circuit con- The plate I0 and housing I2 are preferably trol means 0f this type wherein n0 key 0r Other formed of insulating material, such as a molded instrumentality is necessary to the operation of phenol condensation product, molded rubber, or a 56 the circuit controlling means, and the disad- Iibrous material` The housing I2, at its rear por- 55 tion, is provided with a cylindrical vertically extending socket portion I8 which is adapted to receive the housing I9 carrying the circuit controlling mechanism. The housing i9, which is cylindrical in shape, is also preferably formed of insulating material, and at its lower end is closed by the cap member 26, which member is sealed thereto to form an oil-tight casing, suitable cementitious material 22 being provided for this purpose. The interior of the housing is preferably lled with insulating oil in case a high tension current is passed therethrough, although in this specific embodiment of the invention herein disclosed the circuit controlling means is placed anterior to the high tension coil I3 and does not necessarily have to be so insulated.

At its upper end, the housing I9 is provided with an extending boss portion 23 having suitable screw means 24 securing the end of a flexible control member 25 thereto. The member 25 may be a flexible motion-transmitting member, such as a Bowden wire or the like, and at its end is provided with an extending tongue member 26 which ts into a suitable slot formed in the upper end of the control shaft 21 of the circuit-controlling mechanism. The lower end of the shaft 2l is journaled, as indicated at 28, in the inner surface of the cap member 26.

' The circuit from the source of current supply is led to the circuit controlling mechanism through the conductor 29, and through the terminal 36 connected thereto into the interior of v the housing I9. The cap member 23 is provided with the terminal 32 which extends therethrough and projects therefrom into contacting engagement with the terminal member I'l of the conductor IS leading to the condenser i5. The housing I 9 and cap member 26 are sealed in position within the cylindrical socket I8 by means of v insulating compound which is poured thereinto and which subsequently hardens to hold the housing I9 in xed position. This compound is indicated at 33.

Within the housing I9 the shaft is provided with a plurality of cylindrical block members 34, 35 and 36, each formed of insulating material= the blocks 34 and 35 beingv freely rotatable with respect to the shaft 2l, while the block 36 is secured for conjoint rotation with the shaft 21 by means of the key 31.

Each of the blocks 34, 35 and 36 is provided with a plurality of radially extending cushioning members comprising felt pads 36 which are normally pressed into frictional engagement with the inner surface of the housing I9 by means ofthe springs 39 carried in suitable recesses 46 extending radially inwardly of the blocks. The cushioning members 33 serve to maintain the blocks 34 and 35 in fixed position with respect to the housing I9 upon rotation of the shaft 21;' except as hereinafter described. n

The blocks 34, 35 and 36 are preferably separated by suitable spacing members 42 which serve to hold the blocks a predetermined distance apart and which are mounted concentrically with the shaft 21.

The block 34 is provided with a xed terminal stud 43 extending partially therethrough, and at its upper surface this block is provided with a spring-pressed cap member 44 normallyl urged outwardly of the block by the spring 45, which member 44 is adapted to have contacting engagement with the inner surface of the terminal 36 when the block 34 has been rotated into position .to align the members 36 and 44 axially of the housing I9. The block 35 is provided with two spring cap members 46 normally urged outwardly of the top and bottom surfaces of the block 35 by means of the confined spring member 4l. When the block 35 has been rotated into proper position in alignment with the terminal stud 43, the upper cap member 46 makes Contact with the surface of the stud 43 lying in the plane of the bottom surface of the block 34, and this contact is transmitted through the spring 41 and the lower cap member 46 to a terminal stud 48 secured in the topsurface of the block member 36 which, at its inner end, receives the spring 49 normally urging the cap member 50 outwardly of the bottom surface of the block member 36. The cap member 5U, when properly aligned in position, makes contact between the lower cap member 46 of the block 35 through the terminal stud 48 and spring 49, with the terminal 32 engaging the contact I1 leading through conductor I6 to the condenser I5. Thus, when the blocks 34, 35

.and 36 have been rotated within the housing I9 into a predetermined position, a continuous contact engagement is effected between the terminal studs and 32 through the contact means carried by each of the block members. Thus a circuit is completed between the conductor 29 and the conductor I6, completing the Yignition circuit to the high tension coil i3 mounted directly over the distributor contained within the housing 6.

Rotation of the block is effected by corresponding rotation of the shaft 21. For initial operation, the shaft 2l is rotated approximately between one and two revolutions, which causes contacting engagement between the pins 52 and 53 carried by the upper surface of the block 36 and the lower surface of the block 35, respectively, and between pins 54 and 55, carried by the upper surface of the block and the lower surface of the block 34, respectively. This results in conjoint rotation of all of the blocks 34, 35 and 36. Rotation of these blocks is effective to produce a predetermined positioning of the block 34 so that the Contact cap 44 thereof is in alignment with and engages the surface of the terminal stud 3D. The shaft 2l is then rotated, through the exible motion-transmitting mechanism, in the opposite direction for more than one revolution, which results in reverse rotation of the block 35, while not affecting the position of the block 34 which is held Y in fixed position by the frictional engagement of the pads 38 with the inner surface of the housing I9. The block 35 is then rotated into a position such that contact is effected between the upper cap member 46 and the surface of the terminal stud 43 carried by the block 34. The shaft is then again reversed in rotation and the block 36 is brought into position to produce alignment of the contact 48 with the Contact cap 46, completing the circuit between the contact terminals 3|] and 32. It is apparent that by the circumferential spacing of the conducting means extending through each of the block members, and the anguiar displacement of the contact studs 36 and 32, an infinite number of combinations of movements and sequences of operation may be provided with the same structure, and consequently the same type of locking structure, with different actuating combinations, may be employed for any number of vehicles, each of the structures having an individual locking combination.

It is obvious that other than the flexible motion transmitting member 25 may be provided for effecting rotation of the shaft 2'I, such as the provision of straight shafts with universal joints therebetween. Also, it is apparent that at the opposite end of the motion-transmitting member 25 there will be provided suitable dial mechanism with a pointer or indicator for indicating to the operator of the vehicle the particular positioning required, similar to the mechanism provided for other combination locking devices employing a predetermined sequence of movement. Such a dial or indicating mechanism is disclosed in my patent, No. 2,021,166, of November 19, 1935.

Referring now to the structure shown in Figures 3 and 4, it will be apparent that the structures are similar to the structure disclosed in Figure 1, except that the positioning of the circuit controlling mechanism is varied to accommodate it to different types of generator structures, or to different assemblies of the structure. Also, the structures shown in Figures 3 and 4 are provided for interposition between the high'tension coil of the ignition circuit and the distributor, and hence must be properly insulated in order to pass the high tension current therethrough. Thus these structures must be so designed as to carry sufhcient insulating oil or the like providing for passage of such high tension current therethrough.

Referring now in more detail to Figure 3, I provide a cap member 60, corresponding to the cap member i of the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, which is adapted to be bolted or otherwise suitably secured to a distributor or the like. This cap member is provided with a suitable arcuately formed channel in the upper surface thereof receiving the horizontally extending cylindrical housing 52, which housing is adapted to contain the circuit controlling mechanism. 'I'he housing comprises a cylindrical portion closed at its ends by the cap members 63 and 64, these members being provided with suitable bosses for journaling a shaft 65 for rotation axially of the housing. The shaft 65 is provided with a bevel gear 66 secured thereto, which is driven by a second bevel gear E1 secured to a normally extending shaft 68 projecting out through the boss 69 in the lateral surface of the housing 62, and connected at its outer end to a flexible motion-transmitting member 10, whereby rotation of shaft 68 in turn produces corresponding rotation of shaft 65 through the gears 61 and 66.

The housing 62 is preferably filled with insulating oil, and is provided with three cylindrical block members 12, 13 and 14, each of which is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced recesses 15 carrying suitable friction gripping means normally urged outwardly into engagement with the internal surface of the housing 52, as described in connection with the friction pads 38 of the structure shown in Figure 2. The block 12 is provided with a radially extending contact cap 16 normally urged outwardly by the spring 11, which spring is connected through the stud 'i8 to an axially extending contact terminal 19 extending to the surface of the block 12 at one side thereof. 'I'he contact cap 16 is adapted, in a predetermined position of the block 12, to engage the contact stud 19 connected through the terminal 80 to a high tension conductor leading from a high tension coil toward the distributor. The cer` ral block member 13 of the mechanism is similar to the block member 35 of the structure shown in Figure 2, and needs no further description. The block member 14 is provided with a contact stud 62 engaged by the resilient contact carried by the block 13, when in aligned position therewith, and having a radially directed contact cap 84 which is normally urged outwardly into contacting engagement with the internal surface of the housing 52, whereby in predetermined position this cap 84 has contact with a terminal stud k95 extending inwardly of the plate 60, as indicated at 86, for connection to the distributor contact.

The blocks 12, 13 and 14 are provided with cooperating pins extending from adjacent surfaces thereof for producing conjoint rotation of these blocks upon continued rotation of the shaft 65 in one direction, as previously described. The block 12 is preferably secured by means of the key 81 for conjoint rotation with the shaft 65 at all times, although it is obvious that any one of the blocks may be so secured.

In order to prevent filling of the housing with mercury or the like to short the switch, I provide a ground terminal 81' extending into the housing and grounded on the metal plate 60. This prevents any possibility of by-passing the switch internally. Obviously such a feature can be applied to all the disclosed forms of the invention.

Referring now to the structure shown in Figure 4, the circuit controlling mechanism in this embodiment is mounted in upright position on a cap member 90 which is secured over a distributor or the like. The cap member 90 has formed integrally therewith vertically extending cylindrical socket 92 which is adapted to receive the cylindrical housing 93 enclosing the circuit controlling mechanism, the lower end of the housing 93 being closed by a cap member 94 having piloted engagement with a shoulder 95 formed in the base portion of the socket 92, whereby the housing 93 is guided within this socket. The cap member 94 is sealed to the open end of the housing 93, as indicated at 96, and is preferably formed of insulating material, as is the housing 93. Suitable vinsulating compound 91 is poured into the Asocket 92 about the housing 93 in order to seal the same in position.

The cap member 94 provides a suitable journal for the lower end 98 of a shaft 99 rotatably mounted within the housing 93 and connected at its upper end to a flexible motion-transmitting member |00, as described in connection with the embodiment shown in Figure 2.

A suitable high tension terminal |02 is provided extending laterally outwardly of the housing 93, corresponding to the terminal 80 of Figure 3, through which current is led from a high tension coil to contact stud |03. Cylindrical block members |04, and |06 are provided, corresponding to the block members 34, 35 and 35 of Figure 2, or the block members 12 to 14, inclusive, of Figure 3. The block member |04 is substantially identical in construction with the block member 12 of Figure 3, and it is not believed necessary to describe the same in detail. Block member |05 corresponds to block member 35 of Figure 2 or block member 13 of Figure 3, and it is not believed necessary to describe the same in detail. 'I'he block member |06 corresponds to the block member 36 of Figure 2, and provides for completion of a circuit from the contact stud |03 through the block members to the contact stud |01 connected through the contact-engaging surface |09 to any suitable distributor contact member, whereby current is led in laterally of the housing 93, and is led out from this housing through the circuit controlling mechanism in an axial direction.

In the structure shown in Figure 3, the current is led into the housing from adjacent one end thereof through the lateral side of the housing, and is led out from the lateral surface of the housing'adjacent the opposite end thereof. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, current is led into the housing axially at one end thereof, and is led out from the housing axially at the opposite end thereof. It is therefore apparent that the present invention is capable of use in a multiplicity of situations, namely, wherever it is desired to interpose a circuit-controlling locking Ymechanism between two points in an ignition circuit or the like, and the mechanism itself is capable of connection in the circuit in any desired manner. Completion of the circuit is effected, as described hereinbefore, by rotation of the shaft carrying the cylindrical block members in a predetermined sequence of movements which result in final alignment of these block members in position. By changing the angular position of the pins carried by the adjacent surfaces of the block members, or by changingthe position of the block member which is keyed to the shaft, it is possible to produce an infinite variety of combinations of movement necessary to effect completion of the circuit, and consequently the same structure, with variations in the positioning of either the contacting portions of the cylindrical blocks, the positioning of the contact studs with which these blocks engage, or the positioning of the `abutment members whicheifect rotation of the blocks, will produce any desired sequence of movement necessary to effect alignment of the contacting portions between the inlet and outlet terminals of the circuit controlling mechanism.

It is therefore believed apparent that Ihave provided a circuit controlling mechanism for installation in any circuit in which it is desired to prevent unauthorized operation by completion of the circuit, and in which no key-controlled mechanism or the like is required. Further, substantially the same fundamental construction can be Vprovided for an infinite number of different circuits, each one being individual with respect to all other similar constructions. It is also believed obvious that the present invention is not restricted to use only with a distributor or the like, but may be placed in any part of the ignition circuit, or may be used for controlling other than ignition circuits entirely. Y

I Yam aware that various changes and modifications may be made in the present construction without' departing from the scope and spirit thereof, and I therefore intend to limit myself only as dened by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Circuit controlling means of the class described comprising an insulating housing having a cylindrical passage therein, a shaft extending axially of said passage, a plurality of insulating cylindrical blocks mounted on said shaft within said passage, one of said Vblocks being fixed-fory conjoint rotation with said shaft, means engaging between said blocks for effecting selective rotation thereof-upon rotation of said one block,

spaced contact means extending into said housing adjacent opposite ends thereof, means carried by said blocks for completing a circuit between said contacts upon predetermined selective rotation of each of said blocks, and means for grounding said `circuit controlling mechanism upon filling of said housing with current conducting fluid.

2. In combination, a distributor, a closure plate therefor having a housing containing a high tension coil, a condenser carried by said housing, a vertically extending socket carried by said plate, circuit controlling mechanism disposed in said socket in spaced relation to the defining surfaces thereof, cementing means securing said mechanisrn rigidly in said housing, a conductor extending from said condenser to said socket, means for supplying current to said mechanism, and means within said mechanism movable through a predetermined sequence of operation to complete a circuit between said supply means and said conductor.

3. Circuit controlling mechanism comprising a housing having a cylindrical passage therein, a shaft extending axially therethrough, a plurality of cylindrical blocks mounted in superposed position about said shaft within said passage, one of said blocks being keyed to said shaft means for producing predetermined selective rotation cf said blocks upon rotation of said shaft, a terminal stud extending into the lateral surface of said passage and engaging the lateral surface of one of said blocks, a terminal stud extending axially into one end of said passage, and means carried by said blocks for completing a circuit between said studs upon said predetermined selective rotation of said blocks.

4. The combination with a distributor closure plate having an integrally formed cylindrical socket projecting therefrom and provided with an opening Vin its base for reception of a terminal conductor, of a housing formed of a cupshaped insulating member and an insulating closure cap therefor, said cap containing a terminal stud adapted for connection to said terminal conductor, means surrounding the lateral surfaces of said housing cementing said housing in said socket, a second terminal stud extending into said cup-shaped member, a shaft projecting axially through said housing and journaled at one end in said cap, and means in said housing controlled by predeteremined rotation of said shaft for completing a circuit between said studs.

5. A Contact block for a circuit Ycontrolling mechanism of the combination switch type, comprising a cylindrical block of insulating material, means extending axially through said block at a point spaced radially from the center thereof for completing a circuit between the opposite end faces of said block, a pin carried in one face of said block and spaced circumferentially from said means, a radially inwardly extending recess in the lateral surface of said block, a spring in said recess, and friction material carried in said recess and normally urged outwardly thereof by said spring.

JOSEPH W. BICKEL. 

